J 39. GRAMINE.E. [43. Panicum. 



1. P. miliaceum, L. China, H., Beng. ; Marha (the boiled and parched 



grain) ; Common Millet. 

 Tufted 1-4 ft. high with erect or ascending terete usually only 4-5- 

 noded simple or sparingly branched stems, softly hirsute below the 

 nodes and leaf-sheaths Avitli copious spreading tubercle-based hairs. 

 Leaves 4-12" by •25--8" linear, usually glabrous except the often 

 ciliate lower margins, sometimes sparsely hairy. Spikelets rostrate 

 •14" or with the cusp -IB-- 17" long, glabrous, in lax or (in cultivation) 

 often very dense or thyrsiform cernuous inclined or rarely erect 

 panicles often 8" long by 2" broad. Gl. i large, broad-ovate, |^— frds iii, 

 o-nerved ; ii largest rostrate or sometimes only apiculate, convex, 

 11 -nerved; iii similar or less beaked, empty, paleate ; iv oval very 

 convex subacute usually deep yellow with pale nerve lines but various 

 in coloration, crustaceous, smooth and shining, -OS-- 12" long, palea 

 similar with 2 nerve lines. 



Cultivated in Champaran, Balasore and Cuttack. Cultivated and apparently 

 feral in Santal Parg. ! Probably cultivated to some extent in all districts, but 

 rare in Chota Nao^pur. Fl., Fr. c.s. Annual. 



Usually a much larger stouter plant than P. miliare, but some specimens from 

 the Santal Parg-. are very slender with very lax inflorescence. 



Gi-ain wholesome. The plant is a good fodder. 



2. P. psilopodium, Tnn. 



A tufted grass with erect or quickly ascending stems, 8-20" high. 

 Leaves rather broadly linear, acute or somewhat acuminate, 3-6" 

 by -IS-'S" glabrous or with few short spreading hairs towards base, 

 rarely thinly hairy all over; sheaths often with spreading hairs which 

 leave minute raised dots after falling, more usually glabrous loose 

 striate ; ligule of hairs. Panicle spreading, 2-5", with very capillary 

 branches and slender pedicels which are often -4" long. Spikelets 

 narrowly elliptic -OS--!" rarely -12" long (but see monstrous form 

 below) with abruptly acute tip. Gl. i very broadly ovate acute, 

 about Jrd spikelet, base amplexicaul but not overlapping itself in 

 front, 5-nerved ; ii oblong-ovate as long as spkt. minutely cuspidate, 

 9- (11-) nerved; iii similar with delicate oblong margined palea; 

 iv narrow-ellipsoid acute, -07" very smooth and polished as is its 

 palea. 



Patna (ira/?. No. 8712 rf), Ham.\ Singbhum, in rice-fields and waste land! 

 Manbhum (on the Tundi Hills), Camp. (No. ■42}! Hazaribagh (called var. 

 coloratum) with purple spkts., Clarke ! Fl., Fr. July-Nov, Annual. 



An interesting monstrous form, due to insect-puncture, occurs of this grass, 

 which is rather common. In it the spikelets are '3" long, gl. i -08" ovate-oblong, 

 amplexicaul, 5-nerved very herbaceous; ii "lb" ovate, 9-U-nerved, only half as 

 long as the spkt.; iii ovate, "2" long, cuspidulate, up to 14!-nerved, elliptic palea 

 half as long, the 2 marginal nerves puberulous ; iv •25" long, broadly ovate, 

 slightly cuspidulate, lo-nerved, its palea is glume-like very boat-shaped. "22" long, 

 9-nerved obtuse, the ovary is apparently occupied by a pupa. The rhachilla is 

 very stout and it and the base of gl. iv are bearded. Neither iv nor its palea are at 

 all hardened. 



3. p. miliare, Lamk. Gondula, Beyig. ; Gundli, K.S. ; Mota Gundli 



(the cultivated form in Ranchi), Veni.; Pani Kuhuri (Khondmals). 



Usually a slender grass 1-3 ft. high but sometimes geniculate and 



stout below with the stem attaining -3" diam. Leaves linear 6"-2 ft. 



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